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Salary– $35/hr

Job Description:

In cooperation with USFS Region 5 National Forests, the Great Basin Institute is recruiting a Wildlife Biologist to support forest planning and NEPA reporting on behalf of the Inyo, Lassen and Sequioa National Forests. The Specialist will support USFS professional and technical research personnel by providing biological evalutions to determine direct, indirect and cumulative effects on T&E species for forest implementation efforts. The Specialst’s duties focus largely on supporting wildlife-related research on sensitive species, including fishers (Pekania pennanti) in the southern Sierra Nevada. Duties will be largely office-based (~80%), with some opportunities to support with ongoing NEPA field work (~20%). Office-related work may include: data entry and verification, data organization and management, summarizing information, preparation of figures, report writing, mapping of critical habitat and other tasks related to the completion of NEPA projects.  Field assignments may be somewhat intermittent depending on project needs, but could involve monitoring live traps, documenting the presence and movement of wildlife using telemetry, setting and monitoring remote camera stations, and GPS collar testing. GIS tasks include organizing species location data, creating maps, and organizing spatial data files for field work, summaries, and other NEPA project needs. In conjunction with USFS field and project supervisors, the Specialists will maintain the organization, integrity and accuracy of project data. The successful applicant will also need the skills and confidence to make decisions and exercise independent judgment to safely implement office and field tasks according to established protocols. This position will be responsible for creation and review of NEPA documents, developing guidelines, procedures and instructions for implementation projects, while also researching and tracking recent applicable legal decisions, regulations, and policy guidance. Familiarity with USFS monitoring protocols, T&E species, and Sierra Nevada ecosystems preferred. Strong written and verbal communication skills are imperative; candidate must be approachable and work well in both team and individual work environments. 

Contract Timeline:
o Timeline: Annual appointment beginning in June 2022 (with the likelihood of extension)

Location:
The Specialist will be based in Reno, NV and may travel to the Inyo and Sequioa National Forests, collaborating with the USFS staff and regional resource specialist for NEPA planning for forest health initatives.

Compensation and Benefits:
o Rate of Pay: $35/hourly
o Full coverage of medical, dental, and vision

Job Qualifications:
Needed skills/background:
o A combination of academic and/or field experiences related to wildlife and/or conservation biology, ecology, environmental science, or related field;
o Knowledge of the principles of wildlife biology to collect and work with wildlife data, maintain research databases, evaluate data for accuracy, relevancy, and importance, and relate the significance of the results to the higher objectives to which the activity is related;
o Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access; 
o Willingness and ability to enter data, inspect data for errors, and summarize data;
o Ability to prepare figures and tables for publications, presentations, or reports; 
o Willingness to learn about and assist with analysis of spatial data (e.g., home range calculation);
o Willingness and ability to assist with other tasks to support the on-going field project and research needs (e.g., organizing paper forms and digital files, monthly check of field vehicle, help organize and mail samples to collaborators); 
o Good verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate biological principles and philosophy to other researchers, forest managers, and/or the public;
o Documented ability to work safely in remote, technically challenging environments;
o Ability to work cooperatively as part of a research team, respect the rights of other employees, identify and communicate concerns to supervisors; and
o Ability to follow protocols and accept direction from researchers/project staff in office and field tasks.

Preferred or desirable skills/background:
o Familiarity with forest wildlife research methodology and ecology in the Southern Sierra;
o Experience with NEPA Wildlife Report documentation, GIS and spatial analysis;
o Experience with R or other statistical software;

Additional requirements:
o Highly self-motivated and self-reliant with good organizational skills;
o Possess a valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record with experience operating 4WD trucks on and off paved roads, including narrow, mountain forest roads – use of ATVs could be expected in some winter conditions (training provided);
o For field work, comfortable in remote settings where cell coverage is minimal and most communication is via hand-held radio; and
o For field work, ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, work in all types of weather conditions, and traverse uneven terrain.